UPSC PREP

FOR SOUTH
ASPIRANTS
UPSC CIVIL CERVICES
EXAMINATION
he Civil services exam is conducted in three phases:
Phase 1: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type)
Phase 2: Civil Services (Mains) Examination (Descriptive Type)
Phase 3: Personal Interview (Personality Test)
ELIGIBLITY
pply for UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS) Examination, a candidate….
Must be a graduate. No minimum %, grade or CGPA required in college. (But
don’t prepare UPSC by neglecting college because in RBI/CAT-exams they
consider college marks)
There are Toppers with ATKT, failures in college/school exams. UPSC doesn’t
care. They only need final graduation certi/marksheet.
Undergraduate in last year, last semester can apply.
American degrees valid but have to get equivalent cert. from AIU.
Distance education degree valid- IF recognized by UGC/AICTE/any Law
MBBS must have completed internship before UPSC Interview-stage comes.
e is counted on the 1st August of the given year.
Physical Disabled candidates’ age limits: PH-Gen: 42, PH-OBC (non-
Creamy): 45 years; PH-SC/ST: 47 years. This is cumulative ST ex-
serviceman who was disabled: 32 +5 (ST) +5 (Ex serviceman) + PH
(10)=52 years. But such cumulative effect will apply till maximum
upper age limit 56 years, as per this DoPT Notification
* PH (GEN | OBC) = 9 attempts while PH (SC | ST) = Unlimited Attempts,
till upper age.
Ex-serviceman: addl. +5 years| Attempt depend on category.
est newspaper for UPSC
The best newspapers as recommended by IAS toppers for UPSC
preparation are:
The Hindu
The Indian Express
Business Standard
 ase 1: UPSC Prelims Exam
The UPSC Civil Services Prelims Examination is
composed of two components:
1) General Studies

Paper Subjects Total Marks Duration

I General Studies (GS) 200 2 hours (9:30 AM to
11:30 AM)
II CSAT 200 2 hours (2:30 PM to
4:30 PM)
Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)
 Current events of national and international importance.
 History of India and Indian National Movement.
 Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the
World.
 Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public
Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
 Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
 General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that do
not require subject specialisation.
 General Science
 Subject UPSC Books

History 1.India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan

Chandra
2.OR SPECTRUM PUBLICATIONS – RAJIV
AHIR
3.Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
4.NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval)
5.NCERT XII (Modern Indian History)
Geography 1.Certificate Physical Geography – G C
Leong
2.NCERT VI – X (Old Syllabus)
3.NCERT XI, XII (New Syllabus)
4.World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
Indian Polity 1.Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
2.NCERT IX-XII
Economics 1.Indian Economy by SHANKAR GANESH
2.INDIAN ECONOMYBY RAMESH SINGH
3.
4.NCERTIX,X, XIAND XII
International Relations 1.NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)
2.Current Affairs
CSAT 1.Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
2.Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S
Aggarwal
Solved Papers 1.IAS General Studies Prelims Solved
ndian and World Geography
Geography is one of the most important parts of the IAS prelims syllabus
because of the high number of questions are always there from geography.
The India and world geography section have approximately 20 questions in
the IAS prelims question paper. The geography syllabus includes the
following.
Principles of Physical Geography
Physical Geography of India and the world
Human Geography
Economic Geography
Detail regarding Indian Physical and Political Map
Indian Polity and Governance
This is the most confusing section in the IAS prelims question papers because of the language of the
questions. It is very important to read the question slowly and thoroughly. Every word in the Indian Polity
questions have a deep meaning and the candidates need to understand the question fully before
answering the questions. Every year around 15 to 20 questions appear in the IAS prelims paper from
Indian Polity and Governance section. The Indian Polity and Governance section include the following
topics.
Constitution of India
Principle of Federalism in India
Meaning of Secularism in Indian Parlance
Working of the Parliament of India
The Union and State Relations
Various Important Acts passed by the Parliament of India
Indian Judiciary
INDIAN ECONOMY
Economic and Social Development is one of the most dynamic section in the IAS syllabus. Indian Economy and
its data are ever-changing and following global trends. Social Development is the prime concern of every
democratic government and to pursue this goal, every government announce new social schemes. These
schemes are very important for the IAS prelims exam. IAS prelims question papers contain 10-15 questions
from this section. The Economic and Social Development section will include the following sections.
Indian Economy Fundamentals
Macro Economy of India
Micro Economic components
Reserve Bank of India and its Functioning
Banking System in India
Industrial Development in India (Pre- Independence and Post-Independence)
Capital Market in India
Social Schemes by the Government of India
Read here: Most Important Topics for IAS 2020
ENVIRONMENT AND
ECOLOGY
General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change
General issues related to environment and ecology is a comparatively new topic and the
candidates are always finding it difficult to prepare this section because of the paucity of
standard textbooks related to this section. The number of questions varies each year and
always remain less than ten. The topics in this section can include the following.
Environment and Ecological Principles
Types of Pollutions
Impact of Pollution
Flora and Fauna
Food Web
Use of Plastic and its impact
Environment Protection Act
GENERAL SCIENCE
General Science
General Science questions are not directly asked in the IAS prelims question
paper. The fundamental principles are very important for the IAS exam. Latest
technological developments and their utilities are the favourites of UPSC. IAS
questions ask on the emerging technological developments such as the
Internet of Things (IoT), Crypto-currency, Genetical Engineering, Nuclear
Science and the likes.
The number of questions from this section is always remaining less and only a
maximum of 5 questions can be asked in the IAS prelims question paper.
New Technologies
Human Body parts and it's various systems
Commercial Chemistry
Virus and Bacteria.
INDIAN HISTORY
he History of India includes the following components.
Ancient History
Medieval History
Modern History and Indian National Movement
Art and Culture
Post-Independence
Every year, the number of questions asked from this section varies from 15 to
20. Out of all the above, largest share of questions comes from the Indian
National Movement and the Modern History section but in 2019 the pattern
was shifted and four questions were asked from the Medieval History and Art
and Culture part.
yllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)
Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision-making and problem solving
General mental ability
Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude,
etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data
sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
Broadly, the UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination consists of two
papers of objective type, each of 200 marks (hence totaling 400 marks) and of
two hours duration. To qualify for the Civil Services Mains, a candidate must
attempt both the papers.
Further, the UPSC General Studies (GS) paper consists of 100 questions, while
the CSAT paper consists of 80 questions. Both papers have negative marks for
wrong answers marked to the tune of 1/3rd of the total marks assigned to that
question.
 To further illustrate this, each correctly answered GS question will be awarded 2 marks. So, 0.66
marks would be deducted from the total for every question that is wrongly marked.
 Similarly, in the CSAT paper, since we have 80 questions for 200 marks, correctly answered CSAT
question would attract 2.5 marks each, while every wrongly marked question would attract a penalty
of 0.833 for each such wrong answer, which will be deducted from the total.

Questions that are not attempted will not attract any negative marks.
Paper Subject Marks
Paper – I Essay (can be written in the 250
medium of the candidate’s
choice)
Paper – II General Studies – I (Indian 250
Heritage & Culture, History &
Geography of the World &
Society)
Paper – III General Studies – II (Governance, 250
Constitution, Polity, Social
Justice & International Relations)

Paper – IV General Studies – III (Technology, 250

Economic Development,
Biodiversity, Security & Disaster
Management)

Paper – V General Studies – IV (Ethics, 250

Integrity & Aptitude)
Paper – VI Optional Subject – Paper I 250
Paper – VII Optional Subject – Paper II 250